Thanks, freaked. Quite happy about this. It's not the Big East, but it's a start. More importantly, the economics favor UMass which currently loses $3 million a year in FCS. The move alone will cut that in half an potentially balance out within a couple years.

Here's my quick take:

http://collegesportsinfo.com/2011/04/19 ... de-to-fbs/

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MAC MB thread discussing UMass to MAC story at http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=493933

Welcome to the FBS, Quinn. You need little digital fire works on the home page

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I do indeed see UMass in the Big East (or whatever it is called 10 years from now, likely Metro) later on.

http://www.hustlebelt.com/2011/4/19/212 ... ealignment

Article suggesting new MAC realignment, they seem to think that the MAC will keep the East/West divisional split and add UMass to the East and move Bowling Green to the West; but for some reason they are really hung up on how this will affect basketball but the obvious answer to me is to just do have divisions in bball like the ACC has or Big12 had.

Here are a few reasons they think moving Bowling Green is the best option:
• UMass and Temple, because they're both on the coast
• EMU/CMU/WMU, for the Aluminum Compass
• Toledo and Bowling Green, rejoining these two frenemies
• Akron and Kent State, for the Wagon Wheel
• OHIO and Miami, presumably in their own third division where they'll leave everybody else alone
• NIU and Ball State, not because they're rivals, but because they're either in the Central time zone or once in their history rejected daylight savings
• Buffalo, because they're in the MAC too.

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Fan of the Big 12 Conference, the Mountain West Conference and...

I think they should go North/South. All you would do is swap Ball State with Buffalo and add UMass to the North (which is basically the old West division). Divisions stay almost entirely the same and the divisions are balanced (6 full, 1 f-ball only).

I prefer this because I am holding out hope the MAC goes for WKU and MTSU, puts them in the South, and then sends Temple and one of the northern Ohio schools to the North. I also like this because only one football only school is in each division so no school has to switch divisions after the football season.

http://www.ubbullrun.com/2011/4/20/2123 ... -Divisions

Another article, discussing in more detail the possible MAC divisions...

Once again why not only use division in fb to save money on travel and play everyone in bball which is way more manageable without Temple and UMass?

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Fan of the Big 12 Conference, the Mountain West Conference and...

What is the "Aliminum Compass"?

The ALUMINUM (correct spelling) Compass is a traveling trophy between the three Michigan schools (E/C/W) also called the Michigan MAC trophy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_MAC_Trophy

It is similar to the Commander-in-Chief trophy between Army, Navy, and Air Force

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Fan of the Big 12 Conference, the Mountain West Conference and...

"Among" the three Michigan schools.

If the Super Conferences go down the MAC is considered to be the strongest midmajor that won't see much action. Their biggest worry is that Ohio and Miami (OH) along with the football only members may be taken by the new ACC/Big East/Super CUSA conference, primarily Temple but UMass could go too but either way they still have many strong options.

If Temple leave I would immediately invite Villanova to upgrade and join, this does two things 1st it keeps the Philly market and 2nd it keep UMass happy by having another Eastern member to play and possibly allows them to join together when the other non FBS league start changing.

Next I would try like hell for Iowa St, they may get lucky and get picked up along with the Kansas schools in the Big East/ACC but most probably they'll fall to the MWC/CUSA. If CUSA can keep its league together then the MAC probably has no shot but the Texas schools are looking to get in a big league and the MWC may be the closest thing to an AQ at the time, so if the Texas schools start bolting, convince them to join the MAC (Big Fish small pond).

Next I would approach Marshall about coming back since they will likely be playing more Sun Belt schools than CUSA schools when this is all said an done.

If any of these schools decline my next step would be to approach Memphis and Middle Tennessee St, this gives the MAC a solid pair of fb teams, and an excellent bb team plus a new state for TV contracts and recruiting. By going after them both it would help travel and drive interest within the state (like the SEC has with Vandy and TN) plus a politician may like the idea and force Memphis to team up with MTSU and hopefully they both join the MAC and not the Super CUSA.

Finally my last ditch effort to get the MAC it's 15/16th schools if all of these other options fail would be to approach Western Kentucky or another FCS upgrade like Youngstown St. Neither are slam dunks but they are within the geography of the bus league and their badness will only make the other schools look better.

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Fan of the Big 12 Conference, the Mountain West Conference and...

Temple may likely be snagged by the Big East. In a few years, if UMass does well, they could also go to the Big East.

There remains a possibility that Buffalo may move its other sports to the America East Conference, being in the MAC for football only.

Finally, three new members could join: Southern Illinois and Youngstown State as full members, and Dayton as football-only.

Here's what the MAC might look like for football in 2020:

East:
Akron
Buffalo (FB only, America East for other sports)
Dayton (FB only, with Big East non-FB schools for other sports)
Kent State
Miami
Ohio
Youngstown State

West:
Ball State
Bowling Green (East for other sports)
Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Northern Illinois
Southern Illinois
Toledo (East for other sports)
Western Michigan

Dayton? Let's be a little realistic. They are non-schollie football.

And why they hell would Buffalo go to the America East Conference for other sports?

Don't feed the troll

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Per CBS sports twitter page:
UMass will join the MAC's East Division and Bowling Green will go West.
Sorry on phone so no link...

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Fan of the Big 12 Conference, the Mountain West Conference and...